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Tuesday, January 26, 2010

I am thinking about kitchens this week, as I spent 2 1/2 hours at the kitchen appliance store yesterday. Although there are some big decisions that need to be made, I feel well prepared thanks to Cynthia Ziegler, my wonderful kitchen designer, as well as the kitchen forum on Gardenweb. I am the type of person who likes to research and ask a lot of questions – then once I make the decisi0n, I rarely second guess.

When reading the kitchen forum of Gardenweb, I realized that the sink decision is one of the first decisions that must be made. Are you a single bowl person, or a double bowl person? Stainless, fireclay, cast iron, silegranit or stone sink? Do you want a prep sink? Where is the sink going to be located? What style of faucet (bridge, pull down or pull out sprayer). I have never picked out a sink before, and I have always adapted to what I have had. But now that I am aware of all the options, I realize that I really dislike my current sink, which has a divided bowl – a little section with the disposal (which is the section we use 90% of the time), and a large section that is good for washing pots, but has no disposal. (I would take a picture of it, but I was up very late making a marinade, and the sink is not very pretty right now.) However, I do like the material - cast iron, with a white enamel finish. My sink has been a work horse for over 20 years and still looks great.

I am finding that the hundreds of pictures of kitchens in my inspiration files, originally saved for decor and architecture, are now very helpful for analyzing layout and details of kitchens!

Type of Sink

I have long admired farmhouse sinks, and this is the sink I assumed would be in my new kitchen. Yes, there have been murmurings of this being ‘trendy’ and a look that will be replaced by ‘the next big thing’ in a few years (I even had it as one of my possible trends that scream the 2000s), but most agree that this particular trend is based on a classic design style. As one person commented, everything comes and goes in cycles – it seems like everything is trendy at some point in time. Image via Cote de Texas.

Joni of Cote de Texas has this lovely sink in her own kitchen. Look at how thick her countertops are – I never noticed that before! What a beautiful kitchen. Joni unveiled her remodeled kitchen last year in this post.

Another look that I have been seeing in magazines is the side by side sink look. The first time I saw this in person, I was a bit taken aback. I seems like overkill. Coming from a 1980s kitchen, I am very minimalistic about how much I want in my kitchen. I think that I am leaning towards the ‘single bowl team’ (if you read the Gardenweb kitchen forum, you will see that there are definitely two camps – single bowl and double bowl). I have heard that single bowls work best if you have a small prep sink too. I have also heard that double bowls are really not that necessary if you have a dishwasher; the second bowl used to be for washing dishes. I still wash a lot of cookware by hand, so I don’t think this is a good argument.

My sister’s new house has a Shaws double bowl sink – she commented that this model seems rather shallow, as her previous house had a deeper stainless double bowl sink. This does look quite shallow compared to the models above. I will have to check in with my sister after she has cooked a few meals in this kitchen and see what she thinks.

A big stainless sink is an option too – as long as I have an undermounted sink in my new kitchen, I will be happy (I don’t have that now). Kitchen design by Matthew Quinn, Design Galleria.

Cynthia, my kitchen designer, has also opened up my eyes to some interesting new options – perhaps not as classic, but they truly represent an advance in kitchen sink design and seem to make so much sense functionally. The Kohler Stages kitchen sink is one that Cynthia wanted me to look at. The sink has a beveled edge, so it holds all sorts of accessories, making it both a sink and a work surface in one. It is quite large – 45” wide (there is also a smaller version). The video of the sink in action is pretty amazing, especially for someone like me who cooks a lot – take a look - http://www.kohler.com/video/index.jsp?bcpid=823619074&bclid=203863667&bctid=21311779001. This sink is not classically beautiful like the Shaw farmhouse sink (and I would certainly get different faucets), but it looks so functional and well designed. I wish the Kohler site would show this model in a more traditional setting – all of the images are very contemporary and industrial!

Location of Sink

Most of the sinks I admire in my kitchen files have an enormous window over the sink, and this kitchen epitomizes the look! In January of last year, Cote de Texas created her famous kitchen post, and the image that inspired the post was an email I had sent to her with this picture, proclaiming it to be my ‘dream kitchen’. Joni noted that it was the window, the shape of the island, and the shape of the room that probable were at the base of the kitchen’s appeal for me.

More than likely, based on the room shape and layout, I think my sink will end up on the island. Given that the island will look out past the kitchen table to a wall of windows (and a door) looking out over the garden, there will be a good view and plenty of natural light. In the end, I think it is perhaps the natural light that has the greatest appeal for me in a kitchen. With the sink in the island, this allows the range and the range hood to be the focal point – that can be a topic for a future post! Image via House Beautiful (it is the December 09 kitchen of the month), design by Mick De Giulio, photo credit Julian Wass.

Another picture I recently came across (posted on the Circa Interiors blog) ….this is the general layout of what we are thinking about doing in our kitchen. The range will be in the middle of the wall, flanked by windows, and the sink will be on the island. Image via Traditional Home, interior design by Mark J. Williams, photo credit Michael Garland.

Sinks in the island are actually more common that I originally thought. If a kitchen is an interior kitchen, this seems to be the preferred position for the sink so the cook can look out into the room if they don’t have a window. Kitchen design by architect Louise Brooks. Image via Elements of Style.

I have long admired this kitchen, designed by architect Steve Giannetti. He is truly masterful at kitchens.

This William Hefner designed kitchen (also an architect) has always intrigued me, and I went back to it in order to analyze where the sink was located. He put a little prep sink in the corner of the island, I wonder why? Perhaps it is for efficiency, proximity to the refrigerator, and to keep the workspace on the island open. I think someone told me that this island is made of zinc – it’s quite striking.

Sometimes it is good to see the rest of the kitchen to understand the full story. Here is a large sink, probably used mainly for cleanup. It is not common to see a sink that is not under a window, but this kitchen is not lacking for light. The dishwasher(s) are placed over there, as is the dish storage – it is easy to bring dirty dishes from the table, and it is still easy to transport messy pots and pans over to the clean up sink. I love the small door to the outside that is within the kitchen – it reminds me of the home where I grew up in Connecticut.

Style of Faucet

Related to the sink is the style of the faucet that will go with the sink. This is where my brain starts to ache – so many options out there! Last year, I replaced my pull out sink faucet with a pull down faucet, with one central lever that controls hot and cold (go to the left for hot, the right for cold, middle for warm). I must admit, I find it to be quite easy to use (it is the Delta Leland Diamond).

And yet, the darling of the design blogs seems to be the bridge faucet. This is one of my favorites – by Perrin & Rowe.

This kitchen has two bridge faucets – I would love to see this kitchen in its entirety! Edit: one of my readers let me know that this is from Martha Stewart's home, Turkey Hill (which I think she sold?). Here is another picture of the kitchen- http://www.marthastewart.com/photogallery/marthas-memories-of-turkey-hill#slide_13 - what a testament to classic design, given that this kitchen was renovated in the 90s - a time when not much was done with restraint!

I assume that bridge faucets get their name from the elevated cross bar between the hot and cold handles. The style of the spout can be quite varied – this one has a lovely sculptural arc.

Back to Joni’s kitchen – she has a Perrin and Rowe polished nickel bridge faucet. She calls it the jewelry of her kitchen, and it looks beautiful with the new sink and counters.

This kitchen (which I noted is from House Beautiful, design by Michael Smith) has all sorts of faucets and contraptions going on at the sink. What is that large thing that looks like a pencil sharpener? Maybe a water purifier?

I also like the look of an industrial style sprayer, although I think the profile is a little high if it is going to be on an island.

I actually rather like this Kohler faucet - it looks so simple to use. It has a pull down sprayer, which I have grown to love. I found this image via Simplified Bee – she has been writing a great series of kitchen posts which have been inspirational to me. Design by Berkley Vallone (one of Traditional Home’s 20 young designers to watch) and Caroline DeCesare; image via Vallone Design.

And yet, none of these options have the beauty of the bridge faucet. My concern about the bridge faucet is that it would be a pain to have a separate handle for cold and hot. I remember when I used to visit my grandmother in England, and her kitchen sink had a separate spout for cold and a separate spout for hot – you had to mix the two in the sink to make warm! So, it’s not as challenging as that set up! And yet, I am used to one lever to control hot and cold.

Readers, please weigh in on any or all of the sink decisions. What kind of sink do you have, or what kind of sink to you recommend to your clients? Are you on the single bowl or double bowl team? What about faucets – if you have a bridge faucet, do you like it?

When I asked my sister how she liked the bridge faucet in her new (old) house, she said that she adapts - she thinks that Americans make too big of a deal out of everything being as efficient as possible. She had the same memory of our British grandmother's sink with its separate hot and cold faucet - totally separate.

Hi! I had many of your same delimmas when designing the kitchen in my new home. One of the biggest was going from one lever to control hot and cold, to two. I went with the polished nickel bridge faucet with cross handles from Rohl. I LOVE IT!!! I never give a second thought to mixing the two and sometimes use only cold, sometimes only hot - no big deal. As for single v. double bowl, I love my stainless single bowl. In my previous kitchen, the bowl was 10" deep - way too deep and it was hard on my back having to bend over to wash. My new single bowl is 8" deep and this is perfect for me. Based on all of your posts, no matter what you do, you will have a GORGEOUS kitchen. Have a great time designing it!!!

One thing to consider w/ the Shaw's sink is the bottom is so flat that things don't naturally wash toward the drain. I have also had problems w/a separate sprayer as opposed to the pull down version. It breaks every now and then and when I turn on my water, it comes out the sprayer as well. Mess! I love my stainless single bowl. It is easier to keep clean than a white Shaw's.

As always stunning images, every single kitchen had me drooling, and it wasn't for site of any food (which is what usually gives me that reaction), it was the beauty of each and every kitchen you showed :) Single bowl (without question) be careful with how deep. The deeper it is (also makes a difference on the height's of each one in the family) the harder it will be on your back from bending down. I totally agree, I think we adjust, the bridge faucets are so dreamy. Keep it clean and forgo the water purifier if you don't need one. I have done much research on these same items for others, and it is important and also a personal preference (go with your gut). No matter what you choose without doubt it will be stunning. Hope the marinade was yummy. xo

Well, I just don't like anything on a kitchen island but a plain surface! No sink, no range,nothing but a plain slab of something. I love having a huge area to unload grocery bags,to put a big vase of flowers on and arrange for a casual buffet,to set for dinner (and have it look like a table...not with a gaping sink-hole or oven- range staring you in the face. Mine has outlets built in the sides so we use it to mix things, then with a quick spin you turn and voila! the kitchen sink is right there!Another turn and you face the Wolf oven! A few steps around is the refrigerator! A big arrangement of peonies in the middle of our island (butcher block...stains and scratches showing it's 16 year history) and the kitchen has on her party dress. My kitchen island has drawers built in on one side, a microwave on the other, and a cupboard for cookies,cereals and snacks on the other. It works plenty hard without defaming the top of it.

I have a big deep single bowl stainless steel sink that I love. I renovated our kitchen last summer and gave myself a migraine for weeks trying to decide. My sink is on the island too and I love being able to look out as opposed at a wall or something. I spend a lot of time at my sink! Hope you are feeling better. Call me.

Oh! An addendum...I have a farmhouse sink (16 years old),and other than the two dishwashers that are on either side of it, is one of the best design decisions I have ever made. I have a big family and this sink holds alot of 9x13 pans. Flat, so they can soak. Also, this sink is plenty big to bathe most of our dogs...two shelties, a cocker-retriever mix,and a few mutts. A nearby electric plug makes drying them a cinch, and then they're down! I modeled this kitchen after english country-house kitchens....figuring the English knew a few things about life.

I've been drooling over these gorgeous kitchen photos this morning. How fun to get to choose everything from scratch like you're doing! It must be a little overwhelming, though, with all the options. I can't wait to see how it turns out!

I had a double bowl, porcelain sink in my kitchen prior to our renovation at the end of 2005. Loved the porcelain, hated the double bowl. If you feel a second sink is necessary, do a seperate little sink in another area. Now I have a large, deep, single stainless steel bowl (could not find another option in the size I needed with a price I could fit into my budget) with a custom dish drainer. No regrets. It can accommodate a "party" of dishes as well as my huge All Clad pasta pot. As for faucets, I agree they are the the little sparkle worth the splurge. I personally love polished nickel. I chose a Danze single handle in polished nickel from their designer "opulence" series. I also have the sprayer and soap dispenser on either side and these have been so practical and convenient. I am a germaphobe so the single handle for hot and cold was best for me. But, I will agree all the bridge faucets in the images are beautiful.

I have a stainless steel sink (installed and chosen by the builder before I purchased my home) and I recently switched out my faucet for the pull-down Kohler you pictured. Although the farmhouse sinks and bridge faucets have come back into fashion of late, I'm thrilled with the practicality of the stainless sink and with the ease of the one-lever, easy pull-down faucet. I think it has a great look -- a touch traditional but also streamlined and au courant -- and most importantly for a kitchen that gets lots of use, both wear beautifully. Best of luck!

I have a double bowl stainless with very deep bowls. One side is larger than the other to accomodate those really big pans and I love that idea. I did choose a really tall gooseneck faucet, and it does have a single lever. I love it. The farmhouse sinks are just stunning. I love the look. Can't wait to see what you choose. Hugs, Marty

My kitchen designer is in 'think mode' on the kitchen right now, and will present the design on 2/5. I may be completely surprised at what she comes up with - we have purposely left the kitchen a blank slate and she can change the set up, walls, width, depth - location of the pantry, island, everything - so what I think might be the kitchen set up is based on very preliminary data!

My kitchen is going to be in a wing, so it will capture lots of natural light from the south and southeast. There will be windows on either side of the range that are north facing - this is the least private side of the house, so it did not make sense to have a big window there.

One thing I don't really like is when there is a cooktop on the island. I am OK with a sink. I do love islands that are big and open and have nothing on them, but I just don't see how that would work given that our kitchen is long versus square - but we will see!

The salesperson from the appliance store did mention that Shaws sinks, because they are all handmade or because of their design, don't slope down to the drain. She said there is a tendency for water to pool in the corners (and I guess 'stuff' too) since there is actually a small slope up in the corner.

I am not sure what my current sink is made of - maybe porcelain? But my current sink does the same thing.

I love the idea of single bowl, but I am not sure if I could do it if it is all in one, for washing the dirty things as well as the clean things. My husband hates the idea of raw meats being dealt with in the same place as veggies.

My sink is granite composite, deep double bowl. LOVE IT. I dont think I will ever have another type of sink. We also have the Kohler faucet you show, but we swiveled the bottom section. So the hot/cold knob is actually facing you when standing at the sink instead of on its side. Our stove in on a wall with windows on each side and sink in the island. It was actually the opposite before we gutted and remodeled. Alot of decisions, it took me a year before I started my remodel.

I also love the Cote de Texas kitchen. It stuck out to me as I was looking through all the pictures. I have a double sink and would prefer a large single. I prefer a faucet with one handle. Thanks for sharing.

Several years ago we upgraded/updated our kitchen and replaced a double-bowl, rather shallow, white porcelain Kohler sink with a single bowl, stainless, 10-inch undermount Blanco sink. I did a lot of research and knew that I didn't want a double bowl again. And, I chose stainless for it's durability. When it arrived, it looked like a big metal bath tub!

I love having the single bowl (you can wash a cookie sheet or large frying pan) and if you don't get to the dishes right away, it is deep enough to hide the mess (although personally, I can't stand to have a sink full of dishes.) But, because it's so deep, and undermounted (add the thickness of the counter surface to the depth) it can be a bit of a back ache if you have to stand there for any amount of time. I've gotten used to it, and added the stainless grate for the bottom (highly recommend) but I would suggest ordering a sink no deeper than 9" if you will be undermounting it.

I have a single lever mixer and agree about ease of use, but I also think the bridge faucets are lovely, and if I were replacing, I might consider a bridge style.... I think the need for convenience is very individual-I tend to have a higher tolerance for "steps" than some, and wouldn't mind sacrificing ease of use for beauty.

How tall are you? I only ask because im 5'2 and dont have the problem of having to bend down much but want your input? Doesnt the stainless scratch sink? Just in the showroom the one I seen had major scratches....also why a grate?

I just moved back into my house after a 7-month renovation. So I was where you are about a year ago. I feel your pain. So many decisions... My kitchen is a galley -- no room for an island with an extra sink. After much waffling, I went with the Shaw single bowl sink -- a classic that will never go out of style in my opinion. I used to have a double bowl and hated it - not enough room for big pots and baking sheets. As for the faucet, I LOVE the look of P&R bridge faucet but didn't think it was practical for cooking. The P&R single lever was not in my budget (mostly because I spent a lot on my mudroom sink and faucet) so I went with Blanco's "grace." It's not P&R but good looking. Check it out. I have several friends who have the Blanco stainless sink and love it.

Saw your recent post on sinks & faucets and thought I would add my two cents. I sent you my kitchen pictures the other week in my comments about your family room tv dilemma. I am a researcher by nature as well and spent countless hours on appliance selection and faucet selection. The sinks were an easier choice for me....although I did spend time on them as well.

SinksThe easy part was a single bowl. I really really dislike double bowls. For me they usually meant having to clean two separate sinks instead of one and they didn't function well for me. I ended up with a variety of sinks. My main sink is a Franke professional series 30" stainless steel sink (the deep one). I love that it is big and deep. I have a dishwasher on each side of it and use it for my cleanup of dishes that go in the dishwasher.

In my island (partly inspired by the kitchen you showed designed by Steve Giannetti), I have a large single bowl sink made out of the same granite as my countertop. I love that it is big. I really dislike small island prep sinks. Since it is across from my rangetop I use it to clean all my pots and pans and things I do not want to go in the dishwasher. This setup (big sink for regular dishes & big sink for pots/pans cleanup) works amazingly well for me but might not work for others. I have learned that kitchens are extremely personal in how you cook, clean up etc. The one bad thing about this sink is that since it is fabricated from multiple pieces of stone and the bottom is somewhat flat it doesn't completely drain out.

In my laundry room which is on the first floor so I tried to make it nice, I have a shaws farmhouse sink. I absolutely love this sink and would consider putting it in future kitchen. I had porcelain sinks before that I didn't like but the quality of this sink is so much better. And I think it looks nicer wet than a stainless steel sink does. The other benefit from a farmhouse sink is if you have it along a long stretch of countertop it can help with the seam in your stone countertops. In my kitchen the countertop seam along my window wall elevation is at the sink. That means I have a seam in front of and behind the sink. If I had selected a farmhouse sink then there would only be a seam in the back. It is not horrible the way it is but I didn't think about it before hand.

Faucets:

I looked at many pictures and many faucets. Because my kitchen was going to have two big sinks I wanted the faucets to work together so that was another challenge. I looked closely at the Kohler Vinnata which you are considering. Many people on gardenweb love that faucet. I went to many stores to look at them. In the end I chose the Perrin & Rowe bridge faucet. I love the classic look. Much like Joni said, it is like jewelry for the kitchen. To keep things simple I have it at both sinks. It isn't quite as functional as a single/pull-out faucet. But I think it is alot prettier and I am used to it. I have a Rohl wall mounted faucet in my laundry which I also love (was worried how that would work with the kids but it is great).

Going to the showrooms helped me with my sink and faucet decisions. I wouldn't have purchased the Rohl farmhouse sink had I not touched it at a showroom. It is so well made! Same with the faucets. To me the Perrin & Rowe bridge faucet just had a much higher quality feel to it than the Vinnata.

Good luck. Amazing how many choices you have to make and the time you will spend making them! Where to put the microwave - that one took me forever to figure out.

Wow, what a comprehensive look at sinks and faucets! As a kitchen designer, I can tell you that, nearly without fail, my clients want the 30" single bowl sink. And, they seem to fall into two camps: either the sharp corner under mounted stainless or the Shaws type sink.

The kitchens are beautiful, and your style is very consistent. You know what you want! I will be looking forward to seeing more, and I'm glad that you are enjoying the process...and it is a process! It should be fun!

Whatever questions you come across, just wait till your inner voice speaks to you to tell you what to do. Sometimes it takes awhile and you're kind of hanging out in limbo which can be frustrating, but eventually the answers reveal themselves.

I'll weigh in not so much on single-bowl versus double as I will sink depth - it is critical. A shallow sink is just frustrating, and allows way too much water to end up everywhere but where you want it.

I love the beauty of the bridge faucets, but I would probably save this style for a second prep sink. If you're limited to one, main sink, stick with what you enjoy in terms of practicality AND aesthetics.I had a lower-end model of the commercial sprayer style in our last home and loved it. In considering your mention of their typical higher profile, it's such a slim line, I don't think it would be a major issue in terms of line-of-sight obstruction.Tough (but fun!) decisions to make - good luck!

what a fun and important decision making session you have! those are wonderful kitchens. you have already thought of the important considerations. if you know you want to look into the house then the island is the site for you! i agree with you about the farm sink. it is classic, even if it experienced a trend, and i think you would like it. check with your sister about the depth: it might be easier on your back for it to be shallow, but it might be easier for pots/pans if it is deeper. ( can you get someone else to do your dishes??) and white is the color of choice. so pristine when empty and clean! the bridge faucet in the last pic is perfect! really nice looking, and you can probably get used to using two taps. just its loveliness will make it worth the seconds it takes! (even if you have to put down a pan to do it) jkj

My favorite sink is the single bowl farmhouse sink from Waterworks- well worth the $$, beautiful and functional! Best faucet is the goose neck bridge style faucet. Czech & Speake (sp?) makes a beautiful one- there is no issue with functionality!! There are no trendiness issues here to worry about. Both are absolute classics! thanks

I love your blog and this one was especially fun! So awesome that you are putting such thought into your sink and faucet--as they are the most used items in the kitchen! I definitely prefer a single bowl sink. My husband was an advocate as his mom was a caterer in Atlanta and now I'm sold too--so much more efficient--even if you do wash dishes by hand sometimes. Also--while i love the look of the bridge faucet--i'm not sure I could take the two controls. It really is so much easier to just get your temp with one motion. I'd really think about that. The Kohler faucet was attractive and Grohe has some nice ones too.

I'm definitely opinionated when it comes to kitchens. I love my farmhouse sink. For me, one big sink works the best. I used a large stainless sink in my Channel Islands kitchen. It's wonderfully deep and wide, and it accommodates large platters easily. In my eyes there is nothing prettier than the Perrin and Rowe bridge faucet. I have one in brushed nickel in Channel Islands. I love it. Many of my clients voice the same concern you have about double vs. single handle faucets. I've never really understood that one. Usually I just turn on the hot and adjust the cold. I'm not sure why this would seem more difficult that having to adjust a single handle. Thank you for including one of Steve's kitchens in your post. We are always thrilled and honored to be included! Lastly, I agree with you, Joni's kitchen is gorgeous.

I currently have a Blanco stainless double bowl sink and do not like it at all. In our last 2 homes we have had double-bowl sinks and even today, I still wish for a single bowl sink.

The farmhouse style is one I have long admired. I see it as a classic design instead of a trend and paired with the bridge style faucet would make for a lovely kitchen.

For the last 3 years, I have used the Kohler Vinnata faucet and love it very much. It's functional and stylish. I must say though, the bridge faucet is a style I admired although I have never tried one hands-on. I can see why Joni refers to it as the jewel in her kitchen.

Back to the sink, we have a Silegranit bar sink in black on our wetbar and I do not like it at all. It is so hard to keep clean. Water stains are the worst.

This was a wonderful post full of so much beaty (and functionality since it was aabout sinks after all!). There are so many pretty sinks besides the standard stainless undermount- not that stainless steel is bad, but there are just so many wonderful options! My favorite remains a custom sink made of the same material as the countertop... one day I hope to have that in my own Kitchen!

Thank you for your invitation to drop by and adding me to your blog roll - you have a lovely site!

It sounds like you're having fun -- one of the questions I might ask is what the splash levels are -- the higher the neck, the deeper I might make the sink (assuming all the other factors balance -- like others have said, too deep a sink is too hard on the back for taller folks.)

I'm a fan of a single bowl sink and was very upset when my builder did not have it as an option -- I did upgrade to a larger (stainless) double-bowl model which is nice and deep, but I'd still prefer a single bowl. I also generally prefer porcelain to stainless as stainless scratches so easily and shows water marks. As for faucets, a bridge faucet IS gorgeous, but it'd be hard for me not to have a faucet will a pull down nozzle -- they're just so much more practical!

Love the look of a farmhouse sink but have a traditional double-bowl Kohler. We wash a lot of things by hand here so it seemed the right choice. Cookie sheets and large pans get washed right after use (or - full disclosure - hidden in the oven!) so it's not necessary to submerge them for soaking. Like your sister said, you adapt your habits to what you have. My single lever faucet has a pretty, curvy neck like Joni's but I do wish I'd had a bigger budget to work with. We've replaced parts three times in 8 years — all sent to us free of charge by the manufacturer. Did they know their product was inferior so free replacements are just sop? If I were putting my sink on the island smack in the middle of my kitchen, I'd spend big bucks to have it be the star of the show. Have fun!

I cook a lot and need a sink faucet that can be turned on with my elbow when my hands are messy with dough, etcetera. I have a Grohe faucet with one handle and it's been great for 15 years...not as traditional in design as the bridge faucet but it has beautiful lines and this is where function was more important to me. I also have a water purifier unit under the sink and a small tap with lever on top of the sink.

One thing to consider with a farmhouse or porcelain sink is 1) having to remove pot marks with cleanser frequently; or 2) having to place a mat at the bottom in order to prevent such marks--and does that diminish the aesthetics of the sink? My sister has such a sink with a mat--and it traps food particles...not so attractive.

hmmm... I have to say that I have a boring old gooseneck (here whn we moved in) with 2 handles, and when reading your post about having 2 handles I was thinking "Oh that could be a pain" but then I realized it's what I have. So my advice here is to go with the bridge faucet... it just becomes second nature and is no big deal.

Of course I love a farmhoiuse sink... for my dream kitchen I'd be in heaven with a huge 1 basin soapstone one...

awesome post as usual and i've been meaning to tell you how gorgeous you are! Saw pics of you at Brooke's and I had totally imagined you having red hair and you did!!

Great post- and the comments are a must-read. We moved 2 years ago. In the first house, we put in a deep, stainless, single-bowl sink. Worked very well. In the new house, one of the first things we did was replace the thin shallow (turn on the water and it splashes everywhere) double bowl sink with a new thicker, deeper double bowl sink. The depth is good, but I'll never do double bowl again. The second side is practically useless and I so miss the single bowl. I have figured out why the double bowl is commonly requested in this neighborhood- during house parties the unused side of the double bowl is filled with ice and bottled drinks. As for placement- first house had the sink under a window. Eh. This house has the sink in the "peninsula". Washing up is so much nicer because I'm still involved with the people sitting in the living area and don't perceive it as such a chore. Good luck- can't wait to see the before & afters!

We renovated our kitchen eighteen months ago and I have a single bowl undermount porcelain sink from Kohler (K6685). I didn't want a double sink because I don't think it works well unless you have room to get a really big one. My sink was also going to go in a corner of my kitchen so a farmhouse sink wouldn't have worked for us. I echo others comments about a deep sink - try to visit kitchen showrooms to see how deep they are in person and how it will feel for you, depending on how tall you are. I wanted white cast-iron/porcelain/fireclay as I had gotten tired of the stainless look. We are happy with our sink; it is the right size to hide most everything but not too deep. I also don't feel the upkeep is much different than stainless. Faucet-I very much wanted a one-handled faucet that I could turn on with my wrist when hands were dirty. We looked at the Kohler faucet, but liked this one from Grohe better (more elegant and old-fashioned looking IMHO).Grohe - Brushed Nickel Kitchen Faucet - 33870EN0; it has a pull down faucet/sprayer and we are very happy with it, too. I found it much cheaper on the web than at prices kitchen stores were quoting.

We went thru one year of research and decision making (we're like that) but it was really valuable, esp. since both my husband and I use our kitchen. We don't regret any of our decisions.

I love your posts that inspire so much discussion! Here's my two cents:

I have a single bowl china farmhouse sink...it's not Shaws, my contractor found it and it looks just like one, not sure who exactl it's by. I do find that water collects in the corners and you have to give it a good wiping out (like a bathtub) but I do enjoy the function of one big bowl, don't miss two side-by-side at all. As tiny as my kitchen is, that's all space would allow though. I will say it seems to take A LOT of water to fill up the sink since the single bowl is much bigger than half the compartment you'd find in a double sink.

In terms of what we do for clients on a bigger budget and with more space, I think every kitchen I've done for the past few years has had a double bowl. Not sure what that says but for what it's worth that seems to be the trend with Tracery-designed kitchens.

For faucets, I have the Rohl bridge faucet (looks very much like the P&R) and I love it...everyone does who has it that I know of. I agree with Brooke, I turn on the hot and then adjust the cold and it's no big deal. It's easy to just run cold sometimes when filling up a mop bucket or something like that and not have to run the water heater at all too--so it's efficient in that sense.

We tend to use the bridge style or a big industrial looking faucet for our clients--Hans Grohe makes a wonderful versionof the latter. I don't mind the more modern style of a big sprayer faucet (Paige and I jokingly call them 'car wash faucets'), but some people might not like that juxtaposition in a more traditional room. If you do go with a bridge faucet, be sure to have a sprayer beside it...I couldn't live without mine and it's very helpful to wash out the big farmsink.

This is a great post! We are on the same wavelength. You have selected some gorgeous kitchens. Wow. Some I had'nt seen. I don't even have time to comment in detail, but wanted to thank you too for your link. I love my blogger friends!!!

Goodness. My brain is actually aching. Too much to decide. I live in a 1950s house with a 2-side aluminum sink. My boyfriend bought me a garbage disposal for Christmas, so now I feel pretty high class. Ha. Anyway, the first opportunity I jet I am demoting that thing to my studio (It already has a lot of oil paint in it... so good for resale). Until I read this post I was convinced I was getting a undermounted one bowl farm sink... Had not thought much about the faucet, except that it has to spray. I love the bridge faucet you showed. They are so pretty. I do not like the industrial fire hose thing. I see those a lot and am always turned off. I wish I had some advice to offer you, but at the end of the day I can only say, keep it simple, classic, clean and beautiful (you would already have done that even if I hadn't said it).

If you cook a great deal, do NOT go with the bridge faucet unless you can find one that looks like a bridge, but gives single hand control. Trust me, you want single hand control. Think about how many times you go to the sink with dirty hands from handling meat,pastry, etc. and how nice it is to be able to lift up the handle with your forearm, slide it to the left or the right, and voila, you have the water you need. Also, with bathing children in the sink or dogs (both of which happen at my house frequently), you wants a hands free model...trust me on this....the other might look good, but it is a pain for a cook!

there's so much to think about with a kitchen sink! i really like steel sink next too a more rustic counter, it's an interesting juxtaposition. we've rented our spaces for quite some time so the placement has always been a given but you've certainly given me some things to think about!

One thing that many of the Gardenweb kitchen forum love is the Tapmaster - it is a little contraption that is at the footboard, and you can turn on the faucet with a tap of the foot. It is supposed to be easy to install. I am not sure how it would work with a faucet that has a cold and hot arm - maybe it wouldn't - or maybe you would have to pick which is the default? Even if you have a single handle control, it seems like the tapmaster would be a great addition to a kitchen.

Hey where's the copper sink? That's what I have and it's wonderful! I know you lean toward lighter colors. The sink is huge and deep, love it! One big sink. Easy to keep clean too. Farm style faucet in rubbed oil finish. Go to mexicancopper.com and click on design ideas....two of my sinks are shown and they were fabulous to work with too!

Wow - those pictures are great! Designing a kitchen is a lot of work (and fun), and it sounds like you're getting good advice.

In the past, I have had the large, single bowl Elkay stainless sink, which I loved! My current house has a two bowl, undermount stainless sink with one bowl bigger and deeper than the other. The shallower, smaller bowl is on the left, as is the dishwasher, so I find that I pile dirty dishes in the right and then rinse and move them to the dishwasher on the left, a feature I like that I wouldn't have considered on my own. (It might also have to do with my being left-handed...) For a faucet, I have a Grohe with a pullout spray and single handle, not chosen by me. Personally, I find the style a little too contemporary for my taste, but I appreciate the function and utility of it.

With regard to an island, I think Olivine said it well. The other thing I would add is that I find when I entertain, people ALWAYS end up in the kitchen and around the island in particular! Since that's the case, I am glad my sink is on an outside wall. I wouldn't like to have my food set out and my dirty dishes nearby! (Because no matter how well you clean up before a party, there's always that tray or pot or container you have to throw in the sink after plating the food!) Something to consider.

In this kitchen, I also have a small prep sink. It's in my island (which is about 9 feet long) but away from the cooking area. I don't use it for food prep - in our family we call it the hand wash sink. And, I have a grouping of plants on that end of the island to disguise the faucet, which I don't like and for which I haven't been able to find an acceptable replacement. We also use it as a bar sink for parties as it's near the cabinet with wine glasses, etc. I think, had I designed this kitchen from scratch, I wouldn't have put in the second sink.

Good luck with the design! I can't wait to see the results! And thanks for sharing the process with us!

It seems that the biggest reason I've found against the white farm sink is that every speck of food or grease is noticeable. My favorite is the deep (I think 14") stainless steel with no divider. When we had that sink, we also had a small sink in the island with a disposal which worked great when we had lots of dishes and we could scrape in the small sink, and stack/wash in the big (which also had a disposal). As far as faucets, I liked our Rohl with the lever, so you could turn it on/off at the right temp with one finger if both hands were full. All the inspiration photos are so fab. I look forward to seeing what you pick!Serena

Single sink, big and deep. That way it is easy to wash big stock pots, large baking dishes, etc. I guess I never thought about having to bend over it before because I am tall and don't have to! You may want to think about that based on your height. Our old faucet is like a bridge faucet, but comes out of the "backsplash" area. It is very convenient that way. It is original to our old kitchen, I don't know if you can even get that done anymore.

I have to chime in here again, I was actually looking thru my folder from my kitchen reno this afternoon for foot petal info. and couldn't locate it! I also, wanted this but at the time it was a fairly new concept. I am so glad you brought this idea up. It's worth considering even if you don't have "issues" with germs to my extent, but for the reasons and objections everyone has mentioned. It is so awful to grab handles with ick on your hands. There is also a faucet, although not as beautiful (Delta?) that turns on with just a tap. Would love to have it in my laundry room. As far as your husband and the veggie issue, which I completely understand, you just have to do all the fresh prep first(assuming no 2nd small sink)and meat after, then disinfect. I hope you get 100 comments, because you will use your sink and faucet everyday, several times a day. You have to love and it must work perfect for your needs!

I love my farmhouse sink. One thing to be aware of with bridge faucets is that you have to have a separate sprayer with a separate on/off handle and because it is run off of a separate line it can only have cold or hot water. I noticed in Joni's picture it looked like she had some kind of sprayer but I didn't notice an on/off handle. My faucet came from Waterworks and what I described was the only option they had for a sprayer. One more thing, I have been told that I have to remember to turn the sprayer handle off or pressure will build up and cause a leak. Did any of this make any sense?

I love the look of the one bowl farmhouse sink but since I still like to let things air dry in the second bowl (i have a toddler so lots of sippy cups washing)...well a double bowl is the only way I'll go. And our old home had a pull down sprayer faucet by Kohler that I LOVED! Our new home has a bridge faucet. Not a fan. I can't get use to it.

Wow - the Kohler video was surprisingly awesome! I'm a regular cook (umm, recipe follower) but the degree of thought that went into the Kohler sink design knocked me back on my heels a bit. It may look a little industrial, but I'd choose function over form for this one - great post!

Wow, great post, Lots of decisons, isn't it funny how it is so easy to make decisions for a client but when it comes to our own home,not so much! I love a double sink if there is no prep,because of the availability of a sink for the disposal. I like a deep sink at all times. The fire clay is suppose to be the best. I think if your sink is in the island a bridge faucet would look great, I would stay away from too many contraptions I think it would look cluttered. I just did a post today about Design Quirks and I mention something about kitchen counters and faucets. I think you might enjoy it, Kathysue

Thank you for coming by my new blog.I would so love to go through that gorgeous kitchen, I have always loved it. It encoompasses several of my Design Quirks. I know several people have commented on now they can not leave their faucet to the side, I think I have created a monster, Let us know if you get to tour that kitchen, Luck you!! Kathysue

Hi! Just had to comment since I own some of the products you mentioned and I love my choices so much! I have a farm house sink in white, (undermounted) Single basin, 36 Shaws original, my faucet is the Perrin bridge (your fave, mine too). The hot and cold is never an issue, and I would recommend that you take out your largest pots, pans and serving trays, and see if they fit in the sink. I would go crazy with two smaller basins, I need to wash IN the sink, the whole thing at once. Good Luck!

I am currently working on a kitchen and just decided to do a single basin white porcelain under mount Kohler sink. She cooks a lot and with big pots too so they need to easily fit in. Some of the double basins can get tight on space quickly for larger items. Thanks for this post, very helpful for me to look at it all.

This is an awesome post (as usual). Love the sink and faucet conversation, I have 2 sinks and I like that because no one ever stick EVERYTHING into the dishwasher and this way you can put a rack into the second sink and have a pot or two drip drying.

Great resources here. I am about to remodel my kitchen and I the first image (which I think is also repeated below) is my new inspiration for blacksplash tiles....I was showing it to my husband over the weekend. Now I want the bridge faucet!

Hey there!I didn't get through all of the comments. but I'll give you my two cents! I like to have two bowls, I find it works well especially with parties because dishes that are not dishwasher safe can be put in one side while the other can utilize the disposal. It's also nice when doing flowers, flowers in one side and clippings in the other. I prefer a single lever to adjust temps for hot/cold. I notice, however, that most 'designer' kitchens are shown with the bridge faucets. They are nice to look at, but I tend more towards the practical side.

I was addicted to the Gardenweb kitchen forum when I was designing my kitchen four years ago -- but how I wish blogs like yours would have been available then!! What beautiful photos you posted. I struggled with many of the decisions you are making. I agree that the farmhouse sink with a bridge faucet is the most appealing aesthetically. I went with a single bowl undermount stainless (Elkay 9" deep, 30" wide) because we had a white porcelain sink in our old house and it was a devil to keep clean from marks by pots, etc. (but Bar Keepers Friend cleanser did do a good job). My husband wanted the two bowl sink, but he is happy with the large single bowl. Everything fits in it! I even keep a small rubbermaid basin in it to one side for bottles/sippy cups (I have three little ones). I took advice of friends and didn't go deeper than 9" (with an undermount, you add the thickness of the countertop) because deeper than that can be uncomfortable on your back. As much as I was longing for the bridge faucet, I could not get on board with separate hot/cold handles. My best friend had recently renovated her kitchen at the time and was unhappy with the bridge faucet for that reason. (She also had young children at the time, and they had a hard time with adjusting the water temp.) I ended up with a Perrin and Rowe Country Kitchen faucet, brushed nickel, which I am very happy with for its functionality. It's easy to turn on with the back of a wrist. I also turn the water off/on A LOT when I am cleaning up, and wiping all these counters, so I am still thankful I didn't get a bridge faucet which would have required constant adjusting for temp, although I would have loved to look at it everyday! One thing I thought of doing was to get a bridge faucet for my prep sink, which is in my island, and would have been a great focal point. However, the size wasn't good for the 15" diameter round prep sink. As for placement of the main sink, I felt strongly about placing it under our large windows, which face east/southeast and get fabulous morning sun. It would not have worked well for me to have my main sink in my island because we entertain a fair amount and I would not have liked having dishes, etc. pile up on the island between courses or during clean up. I have 6'+ of countertop to the right of my main sink, and it is a good out-of-the-way place to clear the table. (My dishwasher is to the left of the sink, so that flow works well, too, for stacking things to the right, rinsing in the sink, loading to the left, and a stainless drainer is above the dishwasher on the counter. I don't like having the drainer out all the time -- but we'll have that so long as we have sippy cups). With an island sink, you may also want to think about where to put a soap dispenser, hand soap, paper towel holder, etc.. Those things don't bother me and seem less noticeable against a backsplash/outer wall.

I can't wait to see what you decide on! Best of luck,

Gabrielle

As a p.s., we have a Perrin & Rowe exposed tub mount faucet in polished nickel for our pedestal tub -- not a bridge faucet in the kitchen, but not a bad substitute either!

I remodeled my kitchen a year ago and have the exact Rohl/Perrin & Rowe faucet you are considering. I absolutely LOVE it! It is gorgeous in the polished nickel finish. I wasn't sure how I'd like having a separate hot/cold lever, but I wouldn't go back to a single lever. I have a huge single basin sink from Blanco in their steel art collection. It is an undermount with a deep 10" bowl. I can put baking sheets and roasting pans in it with room to spare. Single basin is definitely the way to go. Good luck with your choices! I'm sure it will turn out beautifully!

I love my farm sink - wouldn't trade it for anything. I always had sinks with dividers before this and having one big sink is awesome. You can fit huge pots, plants and even dogs! My neighbor has a stainless farm sink - very cool.

In my upcoming redo, I am going completely against the trend/grain. I want a grab and go, industrial kitchen that works hard. I am putting 3/4 of my budget into appliances. No sink, faucet, cabinet style makes my heart race like the 48" subzero stainless fridge. I am going to use the Kohler 48" harborview sink with legs. It had two faucets, one large bowl. It functions much like the sink featured on your post. I love that it is stand alone and has an integrated backsplash. Even now in my 2/3, 1/3 sink, I use a stainless pan to hand wash small things in and then pop the pan into the dishwasher to clean/sanitize. I like the fact that this sink allows for a sliding cutting block so waste can go into compost/disposer. I am going to use the KWC industrial sprayer and grohe faucets.

In the last five years, I've renovated two kitchens. I have a Rohl farmhouse sink, which I love. Those have been made and well used for over 100 years so it can look so very 1900 as well as so very 2000. Single bowl works very well for us.

Faucets are a whole subject unto themselves. I feel they get short shrift way too often even though they are arguably the most used fixture in the kitchen .

Thanks for stopping by at Atticmag. I hope some of our kitchens also gave you great ideas.

I love the stainless sink that Matthew Quinn used. It almost looks like the front panel could fold up over the top of the sink for extra prep space. Not that covering the sink would be that functional - but I like the idea of "I can if I want to". Also love the Perrin & Rowe bridge faucet - beautiful, beautiful lines. As far as function I actually prefer a two-handle faucet, as I feel it lets me fine-tune the water temp better. That said, there is a newer touch faucet by Delta that appeals to my bacteria-fearing OCD side, and I think it's a single-lever design.

One thing about my kitchen sink, I don't like the location. It's in the middle of the kitchen and when it's got dishes in it, it feels like that's all I can see right in the middle of my kitchen--dirty dishes! So, keep that in mind when choosing. All these pictures are beautiful, but in reality, add a small stack of dishes, (even clean ones drying after being washed bothers me) and that's what it'll really look like.

I prefer against a wall (with a window) for this reason. Then, the dishes don't seem to be the focal point of my otherwise spotless kitchen.

I am in the process of a major kitchen renovation. I wanted the Shaw farmhouse sink but I saved some money and bought the FRANKE farmhouse sink. Saved half the money and it is the same quality. Franke now has Villeroy and Boch make their fireclay sinks. it is perm. inprinted inside the sink FRANKE by VILLEROY AND BOCH. Have not picked out my faucet but I will be going with a bridge faucet. These blogs have been so helpful to not make stupid, costly mistakes. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!

My head is aching for you!We've had a double stainless for decades. It has functioned well and still looks great. It is a VERY old model with attached stainless drainboards on both sides. I've been tempted to replace with under mounted double bowl stainless (over enameled iron, which I've also had).Whatever you choose, you will adapt and enjoy!

Another timely post for me! I need to replace our kitchen faucet and have looked at hundreds. I'm probably in the minority here but I've never liked the bridge style. I'd really like a pullout sprayer one. As for sinks, I had been wanting a farmhouse sink forever and I lucked out because the new house has one! It's a double and while I prefer one large one, I still love it.

We did a stainless steel, but the main thing was a built-in drainboard. it was the best ever. we always had one of two things that needed to dry that didn't need to go in the dishwasher. they make them in ceramic as well. i would highly recommend it..

There is nothing prettier than a farmhouse sink. I too worry that they will be a design element that screams 2000s but what kitchen lasts forever? We are currently making do with our dated kitchen but we hope to renovate in the next few years. It will be fun to see how yours turns out!

i have a double farmhouse sink (made of fireclay) and love it! i've had it for two years and think that it is a classic, not trendy, look. i also have a bridge faucet. i picked a 70/30 split sink because i do sometimes handwash dishes and i wanted one side large enough to handle my biggest cookie sheets. i agree that depth is super important too. i love all of your pics and can't wait to see what you do!

Look at all those pretty sinks! I've always had a double bowl kitchen sink and prefer it, but I do love the look of the apron sink. I put in the apron sink from IKEA in our weekend house remodel and it is perfect there for me but I don't think I would want it for everyday. i guess it is all about what you are used to. :) Thought I would finally comment as I found your fab blog a few weeks ago--i'm in the ATL area, too!

What a great post!! I personally love farmhouse sinks... and think a divider in the middle is just another obstacle for me to break plates (I'm a tad clumsy). As for faucets I find that my clients can't give up the side sprayer for the bridge faucet. Most of them don't come with a sidesprayer... but if you are one that doesn't use the sprayer then I say Go for the bridge! Especially if your sink is going in the island. It's such a beautiful touch. Also- did you notice that almost all of your kitchen pictures have a small field tile backsplash? (Which I love) So...what is your backsplash going to be? :) xoRH

My brain is aching too! You know, since I am nowhere close to a kitchen reno, I don't even process kitchens other than LOVE and DON'T LOVE and the ones I love are for purely aesthetic considerations like giant windows and piles of light and white airiness (like all your favorite pictures).

For practical considerations, I have thought little about all this but definitely deter you from getting the separate Hot and Cold taps. It is a total pain. My Mom has a clawfoot tub and has separate taps and like your Grandma's it is a grand pain in the arse to get the water T correct.

Also as a cook you need to be able to do the one arm faucet start with greasy chicken fingers. We have one of those ugly Moen single handle faucets and it is the ultimate in practicality for cooks. WHo can fuss with two taps?! Love the bridge look, but remember that Joni does not cook as much as you do!

Ok, I am rambling. You will make a great decision and I agree that those modern sinks look very cool but what ugly modern rooms. Ugh!

Good luck - whatever you decide it will be well-informed and hopefully a decision that stands the test of time!

Great post on kitchen design. I used a lot of these same images as inspiration for my kitchen. I adore the farmhouse sink at the east facing window and my bridge faucet - hadn't given to much though to the two handles - it is just a part of my life now.

I'm a single bowl girl, and I love my plain stainless sink -- I don't have to worry about keeping it pretty. A must-have is a faucet that can come out on a hose and spray the sink, instead of a fixed tap.

I do think farmhouse sinks are becoming awfully ubiquitous -- an unwritten requirement these days like granite and stainless appliances have become. But get what you like. I'm unashamed to say I love my dark green laminate counters and my white appliances!

The sink is truly the heart, soul, and focal point of every kitchen. I love the idea that the faucet is a kitchen's "jewelry"!

Thank you so much for the comment on our blog! We're so excited to be venturing out into the world wide web and are looking forward to adding our voice to the Atlanta art and design scene. Stop by the gallery and say hello sometime!

I'm a big fan of a large single bowl sink. Our house had a split sink which we lived with for two long years before we re-did the counters etc. Large pots and pans, my big Le Creuset Dutch ovens - they all fit nicely in the new big bowl.I debated faucets as well. I ended up with a Grohe pull-down that has the arc of a bridge (hard to explain but I'm happy to send a picture). My concern with the bridge, other than our limited space, was cleaning the nether reaches of the large sink. This gives me a Victorian arch but allows for easy clean-up. I love it!

You've got tremendous comments here. My only thought is I wonder if some company will design a classic bridge faucet that has a tasteful, pull-down spout. It would have to be cleverly designed so it didn't interfere with the classic look.

Seven years ago I selected the Perrin and Rowe bridge faucet in the satin nickel (wish it were polished, went back and forth on it when I was selecting and should have gone with my gut) and the single bowl Shaw's sink. I have never felt it was too much trouble to turn on hot and cold, and yes, water and stuff gets stuck in the corners of the sink. Initially, I didn't like the one bowl. Our previous home I had a Newport Brass polished chrome bridge faucet (loved it) and a Kohler farmhouse with two bowls, and I was use to that. Initially, the one bowl was difficult to get use to. I like to cook. The one bowl is nice for larger platters, etc. And if you have a veggie sink elsewhere in the kitchen, perfect, no worries at all. But what it comes down to.. it is all what you get use to!

Great, great post. I loved reading your thoughts. My husband and I will be moving in a year and a half- not sure if we will build or renovate. But I will have a lot to think about! This definitely helps me sort out my thoughts.

I like my Blanco single bowl stainless sink. The kids literally throw the dishes in there, and they never break. It fits my largest pots both for water filling and cleaning.

As beautiful as the bridge faucets look, they don't seem worth the ability to turn on my Kohler faucet with my wrist because my hands are covered in flour. My sink is in the island, but I prefer a large, competely smooth surface. I know these decisions are overwhelming, but that you'll love what you choose!

This is not about sinks, but thank you for all the great pictures you find for your blog. In planning my kitchen, I start visually, and later go back and read to make sure what I have seen will work. The Vallone- designed kitchen caught my eye and provided the last piece of the puzzle for my design (what to do with the corner).

Just installed (by accident) the Rohl Farmhouse sink and I am tearing it out to get the Franke (Villeroy & Boch) because it is almost 2 inches deeper and 3 inches wider. Not as pretty across the face but more functional size. I am nervous about buying wrong color though, my cabinets are off white and granite it black/gold specs so I think I have to go with bisque instead of white??Oh, bought the Waterstone faucet, looks gorgeous!!

Check out the Kohler Smart Divide sink. I like the idea of having a larger area for cookie sheets and large pot and pans but I have a problem with the one basin sink that I haven't seen mentioned. When you are using it for washing you can't use the garbge disposal. I don't know about anyone else but when we have people over someone is always helping out with the washing and others are clearing into the disposal. I found the solution. Kohler makes a sink they call the "Smart Divide" It's amazing! The center seperation is very low. You can fill one side for washing while using the disposer in the other OR you can fill up both sides for just washing larger platters, cookie sheets or large pots. It doesn't come in stainless but it does come in tons of colors. I LOVE mine! I also prefer a one

Those are all gorgeous sinks and kitchen designs. It's really hard to decide which one to choose. I always go for the functionality and what makes me happy :) This is my first visit to your blog and I'm loving it.

I too have the Shaw's 30 inch farm house sink with a Perrin & Rowe Bridge faucet in chrome. I was glad to read the posts here that said "no big deal" about the separate taps. I will say that I had initially chosen the tall gooseneck Perrin & Rowe -- and then was distraught to see that it blocked the inward-opening casement window behind it. So I had to exchange it for the lower bridge faucet-- also very lovely but not my first choice. Don't make the same mistake I did if you have casement windows.

....Just a note from a plumbers wife....1st beautifully done site Thank You! Very inspiring! 2nd always plan your build or remodel for maintenance. When you order these gorgeous new style faucets ALWAYS order new hot and cold cartridges when available. Put them in a Ziploc bag and tape on the wall under your sink. Companies build and design products to be discontinued. Even if your faucet has lifetime warranty on the parts they might not be available when you need to replace something. We see this all the time. Of course if money is not an issue you will easily replace the faucet if needed...

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